Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts
SEPTEMBER ECO FRIENDLY FINDS
The changing of the seasons not only signals a change in wardrobe, but adjustments to your home as well. Think about it in the same way you would your wardrobe. Adding lush fabrics, texture and warmth can be easy if you start of small. A knit toss pillow, a wool throw, and some wooden accessories can cozy up a space, just like that. This month's favorites are a collection of small things you could add to your home to warm it up for fall. I just ordered #2 and I can't wait to snug it right onto the guest bed.
DIY TEACUP CANDLES (EMERGENCY CANDLES)
I have been a little MIA in the last month because we had a forest fire, it was kind of scary, I won't lie. You can read about it here. I have never had to evacuate my home before, and we had about an hours' notice- let me tell you, you really realize what is important in a crisis. Fortunately, we had our important documents all in the same place, and it was a matter of tossing in medicine and passports. Oh, and John hadn't come home from work yet, so I was doing all of this alone, and as organized as I am- I really almost forgot about the cat... Pet owner of the year right here ladies and gents!
But we made it through, and thankfully everyone and everything was safe. But in the wake of our evacuation I realized we are woefully ill-prepared for other types of emergencies. We had no water/food stores, and didn't even own a proper flashlight that wasn't attached to our phones, until last week. So in addition to my other emergency prep, I wanted to make some emergency candles- but I wanted them to look good. I had empty teacups just sitting in the cupboard and they needed a purpose in life. So that's how this DIY was born. I would estimate from my previous candle-owning knowledge, that these will burn for close to 40 hours each.
Supplies:
Scissors
Teacups
Soy Candle Wax
Flat Braid Wicks (at least 3" longer than your container)
Microwave Safe Container/ Double Boiler
Hot Glue/ Wax Adhesive
Directions:
1. Clean your cup and dry completely
2. Place your wick in the center of your cup and glue it down with hot glue. You can also use wax adhesive for this step. Support your wick with a pencil/skewer/huge ugly stick. I had a huge ugly stick handy as you can see.
3. Heat wax according to package instructions. This is where you will add dye or scent if you choose to. I added a few drops of lemon and orange scent.
4. Pour into container. You can adjust the wick to make sure it is straight after you poor the wax.
5. Let sit until the wax is cool until the candle is solid. (If you have an uneven settling you can add more wax to the top to make it a level surface.)
6. Trim wick down to 1/4″.
But we made it through, and thankfully everyone and everything was safe. But in the wake of our evacuation I realized we are woefully ill-prepared for other types of emergencies. We had no water/food stores, and didn't even own a proper flashlight that wasn't attached to our phones, until last week. So in addition to my other emergency prep, I wanted to make some emergency candles- but I wanted them to look good. I had empty teacups just sitting in the cupboard and they needed a purpose in life. So that's how this DIY was born. I would estimate from my previous candle-owning knowledge, that these will burn for close to 40 hours each.
Supplies:
Scissors
Teacups
Soy Candle Wax
Flat Braid Wicks (at least 3" longer than your container)
Microwave Safe Container/ Double Boiler
Hot Glue/ Wax Adhesive
Directions:
1. Clean your cup and dry completely
2. Place your wick in the center of your cup and glue it down with hot glue. You can also use wax adhesive for this step. Support your wick with a pencil/skewer/huge ugly stick. I had a huge ugly stick handy as you can see.
3. Heat wax according to package instructions. This is where you will add dye or scent if you choose to. I added a few drops of lemon and orange scent.
4. Pour into container. You can adjust the wick to make sure it is straight after you poor the wax.
5. Let sit until the wax is cool until the candle is solid. (If you have an uneven settling you can add more wax to the top to make it a level surface.)
6. Trim wick down to 1/4″.
FAVORITE ECO-FRIENDLY FINDS: AUGUST EDITION
Starting this August I'm going to begin sharing my five favorite eco-friendly finds of each month. This month I focused on eco-friendly home decor. If there is a product you have been desperately trying to source, leave me a comment below, and I'll see if I can find something to suit your style needs for future posts!
PANTONE COLOR OF 2013: EMERALD
The color experts have come out with their trends and predictions for what's going to be hot in 2013. Pantone named Emerald their 2013 color of the year, and to tell you the truth I couldn't be happier. I think this shade of green is the classiest color out there, with a deep plum at a close second. Here are a few of my favorite accessories and spaces featuring this festive jewel tone. What do you think about their choice?
THANKSGIVING TABLE INSPIRATION
I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week, and whether your taste in tablescapes is subdued or sumptuous, get ready to give thanks in style. Check out this collection of photos of beautiful Thanksgiving table settings, centerpieces and accessories for ideas and inspiration.
BRINGING AUTUMN INDOORS
Fall is in full swing which means it's time to switch out your summer decor with pieces that will cozy up the home. Some people change out rugs, pillows, drapery, and even art when the seasons change but I have a few tricks to get your pad feeling warm.
Adding a chunky knit throw to the edge of your bed , or over a chair will add warmth and texture. This tassel throw is from West Elm, but you can find hand made throws on Etsy, or try making one yourself. Our throw was made by my grandmother, I love to snuggle up in it, and enjoy a great book. Lately, its been my pal as I enjoy a Leave it to Beaver marathon every night, productivity killer, thanks Netflix.
Gourds can give your home an instant feeling of autumn. You can pick them up at your local market or harvest them from your own garden. They last forever so you can keep them around through Thanksgiving. And they are great outdoors or in. I love this idea from Perfectly Imperfect, if your pumpkins and gourds don't match your decor, paint them. here, they used chalk paint.
Try out some candles. When it starts getting dark earlier in the evening its nice to add the sparkle of some candles. I love pumpkin and apple cinnamon for fall. If you need a quick centerpiece, jazz up some plain pillars with an artichoke, or some asparagus.
Adding a chunky knit throw to the edge of your bed , or over a chair will add warmth and texture. This tassel throw is from West Elm, but you can find hand made throws on Etsy, or try making one yourself. Our throw was made by my grandmother, I love to snuggle up in it, and enjoy a great book. Lately, its been my pal as I enjoy a Leave it to Beaver marathon every night, productivity killer, thanks Netflix.
Gourds can give your home an instant feeling of autumn. You can pick them up at your local market or harvest them from your own garden. They last forever so you can keep them around through Thanksgiving. And they are great outdoors or in. I love this idea from Perfectly Imperfect, if your pumpkins and gourds don't match your decor, paint them. here, they used chalk paint.
Try out some candles. When it starts getting dark earlier in the evening its nice to add the sparkle of some candles. I love pumpkin and apple cinnamon for fall. If you need a quick centerpiece, jazz up some plain pillars with an artichoke, or some asparagus.
AFFORDABLE ART
Cultivating an art collection can be expensive and take years to perfect. When you are selecting pieces for your home you should consider your decor, and choose pieces that you love that will last the test of time. You don't want to rush it. One day when I was in the craft store buying spray glue for a school project I overheard a young married couple selection posters and art prints. The wife would say things like, "Okay, now we need a three foot poster for above the couch." Then the husband would walk around an pick out some things and add it to their pile. They were literally checking off the pieces as they went. There was no rhyme or reason to what they were choosing, just pieces that they thought looked okay, and fit their empty wall spaces. A rule of thumb that I like to apply when selecting art is, don't purchase art from the same place that sells posters of babies dressed up like flowers.
I love simple landscapes, vintage ad prints, and colorful abstractions. I find that I can only afford to purchase pieces for my home about 2 or 3 times a year depending on their price and size. To get around the hefty price tag that comes with art investment, I have framed all sorts of things from art show postcards to vintage playing cards. Here are a few ideas to get you going on a great collection of your own. I generally start with a simple wooden frame and most pieces look great framed in black, white, or gold with simple white mats. The piece above is a large sheet of marble paper, framed in an ikea frame. Wallpaper scraps, wrapping paper, or even the front page of a news paper could make a great statement.
I love this idea from the blog, Young House Love. They took paint chips and arranged them creating an ombre effect. This is such a versatile idea, it can be done in any color scheme, or on any scale- large or small.
One of my friend's made this piece for her husband as a Valentine's gift. Finding inspirational quotes can be a great way to celebrate your family, or like this example keep you motivated. I bet he thinks of her every time he reads it.
Look no further than your garden for art ideas. Censational Girl took some fern leaves, pressed them between some wax paper, and in a matter of days had these great pieces. and they are so on trend for pennies. Almost anything that inspires you can be turned into art for your space.
I love simple landscapes, vintage ad prints, and colorful abstractions. I find that I can only afford to purchase pieces for my home about 2 or 3 times a year depending on their price and size. To get around the hefty price tag that comes with art investment, I have framed all sorts of things from art show postcards to vintage playing cards. Here are a few ideas to get you going on a great collection of your own. I generally start with a simple wooden frame and most pieces look great framed in black, white, or gold with simple white mats. The piece above is a large sheet of marble paper, framed in an ikea frame. Wallpaper scraps, wrapping paper, or even the front page of a news paper could make a great statement.
I love this idea from the blog, Young House Love. They took paint chips and arranged them creating an ombre effect. This is such a versatile idea, it can be done in any color scheme, or on any scale- large or small.
One of my friend's made this piece for her husband as a Valentine's gift. Finding inspirational quotes can be a great way to celebrate your family, or like this example keep you motivated. I bet he thinks of her every time he reads it.
Look no further than your garden for art ideas. Censational Girl took some fern leaves, pressed them between some wax paper, and in a matter of days had these great pieces. and they are so on trend for pennies. Almost anything that inspires you can be turned into art for your space.
DIY BOOKENDS
I am up to my elbows in an office overhaul, and I have been sourcing great office accessories all week. I found a whole list of DIY projects that would be great storage and organization solutions. (Just what I need, to add more to the DIY queue). These bookends have made it to the top of my list, just what I need for my bookshelves. Happy DIY Weekend!
ECO OBSESSION: LOG END TABLES
As you may have guessed I wanted a log stump that I could turn into a table. He was sort of onto me as I had begged to have the car pulled over numerous times to collect stumps I had seen next to fallen trees. "Do you know how much a tree stump weighs," he would ask. I was sure I could handle any measly little stump we would come across. The stars must have aligned, because we went for a day trip to the river to relax and read, and low and behold, there it was my perfect stump. The entire time we were there I kept saying how excited I was that we found this stump, and how great it was that it was so close to the car, I would only have to walk about 400 yards with it. Dear readers who want to collect their own tree stumps, pull your car right up next to the stump. I felt like I was on Gladiator carrying this stump back to the car. I ran the last 100 yards just because i knew my arms might fall off. Of course John was no help because I was too stubborn, and had been saying for weeks how they couldn't be that heavy. If West Elm sells them how heavy can they be? I should have trusted the woodsman, live and learn.
I will post a tutorial on how to get your stump looking perfectly smooth and chic as soon as I can get it out of the car... In the mean time we can all drool over how incredibly chic Courtney Cox's Malibu living room looks. I love the rustic touches mixed with the clean contemporary lines. those benches are to-die-for. I'm also loving the grey tones in her side table, I still can't decide if I should stain mine, leave it plain, or gold leaf the sides. In case I have scared you from making your own table, here are some options that will come straight to your door ready to go. (click images for links).
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| West Elm's Log End Table |
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| Mr Brown's Alpina Side Table |
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| Arteriors Subin Stump Table |
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| Zinc Door Driftwood Drum Table |
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Labels:
accessories,
decor,
eco obsession,
furniture,
interior design,
reclaimed,
recycle
DIY BIB NECKLACE
I found this amazing sweater at a thrift store this weekend for $3.00. John thought I bought it to actually wear and kept complimenting it, as though I might need some confidence to wear it- HA! But, as soon as I saw it I knew it was destined for a new life as a bib necklace. It was so simple a child could do it. Here's how I pulled it off:
1. I used a seam ripper to carefully pick the threads that held the "bib" to the sweater.
2. I held the necklace up to my chest to decide where to place the ribbon.
3. Carefully stitch on the ribbon to the back of your bib, hiding the threads on the front.
4. I used 3/4" grosgrain ribbon, and left the ends about 16" long.
ART COLLECTIONS
I adore art collections. And while I was at the antique show last week I couldn't help but notice all of the great vintage art collections on display. My favorites came from a local shop called Kearsarge Lodge. One of the shops owners, Martha Andrea, is a fabulous artist and was an art history professor for many years- she really has an incredible eye for good collections and framing. My favorite was this hunting dog collection.
Art collections are coming back in a big way. You can't open a home decor magazine these days without spotting a great collage of frames. And whether your personal taste is traditional or modern, there is something for everyone. The two spaces below showcase a great option for those of you who love a traditional look. They are matted in creme with simple gold frames.To get this look at home you can visit one of my favorite vintage art sites, Vintage Printable. They have everything from botanicals, to kid's prints.
If you love a more modern look, you could have photos printed in black and white. The monochrome look will simplify the collection, giving it a unified feel. Black frames also help streamline these 2 collections.
If you are digging the more modern collections check out this museum-esque collection of butterfly prints. You can go here for free printables. There are only eight in this collection so you will have to do a 2x4 block of prints.
MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE
Mother's Day is soon approaching, and I know I struggle with fun ideas for gifts for my mom. I mean what do you give the woman who gave you life- a toaster, umm no... The pinnacle of my Mother's Day gift giving success came in 2005- The Lord or the Rings Collector's Edition DVD boxed set. I will never come close to the success of that gift ever again, well until they release The Hobbit. Nudge, Nudge, Peter Jackson. But Style Me Green is here to save the day with a few eco-friendly and affordable gifts for the mom(s) in your life.
1. Rifle Paper Co's botanical journals are gorgeous and eco friendly. They are made in the USA from FSC certified paper.
2. I love watching Brent and Josh "The Fabulous Beekman Boys," but I love their home-made goat milk soap even more! My favorite is the wild poppy seed, but there are so many fantastic options you can't go wrong!
3. This gift never fails-potted plants. Whether you give her a gift card to select her favorite buds from her local nursery or pick them out yourself, it is definitely a gift that will keep on giving all summer long.
4. Etsy is full of great shops where you can personalize jewelry for mom. I love the idea of doing a monogram charm for each child.
5. You can never go wrong with a gift from the heart. Service is a great way to show you care. Wash her car, give her a foot rub, or help out in the yard. This is a gift for any age and any financial situation that is always a success.
6. Butter London has a great selection of eco friendly nail lacquer that comes in so many fun colors. My favorite is Tea with the Queen.
1. Rifle Paper Co's botanical journals are gorgeous and eco friendly. They are made in the USA from FSC certified paper.
2. I love watching Brent and Josh "The Fabulous Beekman Boys," but I love their home-made goat milk soap even more! My favorite is the wild poppy seed, but there are so many fantastic options you can't go wrong!
3. This gift never fails-potted plants. Whether you give her a gift card to select her favorite buds from her local nursery or pick them out yourself, it is definitely a gift that will keep on giving all summer long.
4. Etsy is full of great shops where you can personalize jewelry for mom. I love the idea of doing a monogram charm for each child.
5. You can never go wrong with a gift from the heart. Service is a great way to show you care. Wash her car, give her a foot rub, or help out in the yard. This is a gift for any age and any financial situation that is always a success.
6. Butter London has a great selection of eco friendly nail lacquer that comes in so many fun colors. My favorite is Tea with the Queen.
BE OUR GUEST
VINTAGE PLATES
I have a collection of old, vintage, mismatched dishes that have been hiding in a cupboard for far too long. Now that I've finished my Spring cleaning and given the place a spruce, I've decided I needed to get them out and display them. I stumbled upon some great uses, and creative displays for my collection. I love the idea of using them as jewelry storage. I store my makeup in tea cups and small vases on my vanity but why not my watches and rings!
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Hanging your collection on the wall gives individual pieces more strength, because they are displayed in numbers. A few plate hangers, and a clever layout could be just what I need in our guest room above the desk! To make hanging plates a breeze, lay them out on butcher paper or newsprint and trace around the arrangement marking where you need to put the nails. Then hang the paper on the wall and hammer the nails straight over the top. Once you rip the paper down you will be set.
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image viaHanging your collection on the wall gives individual pieces more strength, because they are displayed in numbers. A few plate hangers, and a clever layout could be just what I need in our guest room above the desk! To make hanging plates a breeze, lay them out on butcher paper or newsprint and trace around the arrangement marking where you need to put the nails. Then hang the paper on the wall and hammer the nails straight over the top. Once you rip the paper down you will be set.
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I love this idea for re-purposing plates and candle sticks into cake stands. It would be great at a shower or wedding reception. Or for a little girl's tea party. If you have a large collection of china, and vintage dishes from a family member plate rails are a great display option. This collection makes a big statement on this wall for little money, and its sentimental.
image viaECO STYLE: COPY KATE
Duchess Cathrine has such great style, but who wouldn't if you were married to a prince right? I love this look on her, maybe because I love kelly green, maybe because I love nude heels. Here's how to pull it all together with some earth friendly accessories.
HARDWARE STORE CHIC: JEWELRY
I love this trend that I've seen lately for DIY jewelry made from things like nuts, bolts, washers, rope, and cord. It seems so easy and chic. Check out these awesome tutorials, I bet most of us already have most of the supplies, I know I can't wait to start digging through John's toolbox and see what I can make.
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